Circuit controller



July l1, 1933. R. w, GOFF \l,918,030

CIRCUIT CONTROLLER Filed Feb. 1o, 1927 s sheets-sheet 1 7 ZA7 n I I nmmnnlllllllmmull .muunmu ou Inventor: Robert W./(off`, )gg W gif-y His ttorng July 11, 1933. R. w. GOFF CIRCUIT CONTROLLER Filed Feb. 10, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor: Robert VV. Goff,

H'LS Attorney.

July 11, 1933. R. W. GOFF Y 1,918,030

C IRCUIT CONTROLLER Filed Feb. 10, 1927 45 sheets-sheet 5 Invent or Robert VV.GO1Q1",

. compact, simple,

Patented `luly 11, 1933 UNITED STATI-:s

PATENT OFFICE ROBERT COMPANY, A CORPORATIN 0F NEW YORK CIRCUIT CONTRGLILER Application led February 10, 1927. Serial No. 167,281.

'The invention relates to circuit controllers, particularly those having contacts operable with a tmedelay action and it provides improvements that are of special advantage in automatic time element multiple point starters for electric motors or other similar devices.

As applied to motor starters of the above character the invention provides improved means for operating a plurality of motor accelerating contacts in a timed sequence after closure of the line switch. Furthermore, the sequential operation of the several accelerating contactors and the motor line switch may be accomplished by means of a single electromagnet preferably operated'with an excessive initial energization un der start and stop push button control. While the sequential operation of the several motor accelerating contacts is retarded by a common time delay mechanism such, for example, as a gear escapement device, the armature or plunger of the operating electromagnet itself is arranged to be operated instantaneously to the attracted position` thereby effectively avoiding a prolonged excessive current input that might overheat the electromagnet during the sequential operatin of the accelerating contactors `under the control of the time delay mechanism.

Moreover, the improved time element motor starting circuit controllingl mechanism of the present invention readily permits dynamic braking and also full field starting of the motor to be effected in the proper timed sequence, if desired, all with a relatively and inexpensive operating and circuit controlling mechanism. In addition, the motor starting mechanism is so constructed as to materially facilitate installation and maintenance under practically all service conditions. In this connection the improved manner of mounting the motor starter mechanism in an enclosing casing to allow, ready removal for inspection and necessary repair, as well as the ease of making connections with the motor and the supply line are features of practical utility.

The accompanying drawings illustrate an automatic time delay multiple point motor starter embodying the im rovements of the present invention in a pre erred form. Fig.

W. GOFF, 0F SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T@ GENERAL ELECTRIC 1 is a perspective view showing the general assembly of the motor starting mechanism in its enclosing casing with the cover removed. Fig. 2 is a side view showing more in detail the construction of the multiple contacts for controlling the motor circuits together with the common operating electromagnet therefor as well as the common time delay escapement mechanism. Figs. 3, Il, 5 and 6 are simpliiied perspective views illustrating the relative positions of the multiple contact circuit controlling mechanism during dierent phases of operation. Fig. 7 is a connection diagram or a motor control system embodying the motor starting mechanism illustrated in the preceding figures.

Referring to Fig. l, it will be seen that the entire motor starter mechanism is enclosed within a casing 10 having a removable cover 11 and both the casing and cover are provided with suitable ventilating openings as indicated. The panel or base 12, upon which all of the operating and circuit controlling elements and the time delay mechanism are mounted, is removably secured within the casing l0 by means o the two screws 13 and 14C. As shown in Fig. 2, the starting and dynamic braking resistors l.1 and R2 are suitably mounted on the back of the panel l2.

The motor circuit controlling switch mechanism comprises the double throw motor line and dynamic braking switch contact 15, the motor accelerating switch contacts 16 and 17, and the motor held regulating contact 18. The contact 19 is employed to reduce automatically the initial excessive energization of the operating electromagnet 20 in a manner that will be pointed out more fully in connection with the operation of the motor control system, diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 'E'.

The movable magnetic member or armature 21 of the operating electromagnet is top connected through the parallel arms 22 and the links 23 to the contact operating member 9A which is in the form of a plate provided with a suitable bent over arm for connection with the links 23 and with bent over lugs for pivotally mounting upon the shaft 25, as more clearly shown in Figs. 3 to 6. -The shaft 25 is mounted in suitable supports 25', extending from the base 12, as shown in Fig. 2. The double throw motor line and dynamic braking switch 15 is directly mounted upon the switch operating member 24 and is held in yielding engagement therewith by the biasing sprin 26 and the readily removable -locking key 2%.

The motor accelerating contacts 16 and 17, however, are mounted in staggered relation upon a separately operable retarding member 28 which also is in the form of al plate having bent-over lugs for pivotally mountin upon shaft 25 in overlapping relation w1th the member 24. The retarding member 28 has a downwardly extending arm 29 connected to the rotatable gear escapement time delay mechanism 30 through the agency of the curved rack gear 31 and ratchet pinion 32 which have cooperating teeth formed to engage only when the arm` 29 is swun out from the panel. The contacts 16 and 1 are biased into engagement with the retarding member 28 by the biasing springs 33 and 34 and cooperatin locking keys 35 and 36 respectively. The lient-over lug 28a of the retarding member holds the Contact 17 slightly out of alignment with the contact 16 to insure successive operation of contacts 16 and 17 as will appear hereinafter. It, however, should be noted that the locking keys and 36 pass through suitable open-v ings in the retarding member 28 and are 'locked into engagement with the operating member 24 at their rear ends, as shown in a Fig. 2. With this arrangement, as will be pointed out in detail hereinafter, the gear escapement mechanism 30 serves to retard operation of the retarding member 28 while permitting instantaneous operation of the o erating member 24 by the electromagnet, t ereby setting up a strain in the biasing springs 33 and 34 tending to cause the member 28 to follow member 24 and thereby carry the accelerating contacts 16 and 17 into successive abuttlng engagement with le cooperating stationary contacts 16' and The field regulating switch 18 which is rotatably mounted rin the stationary support 37 is biased tothe circuit closing position by the spring 38. The insulating finger 39 for operating the field switch 18 is mounted upon the retarding member 28 and ieldingly connected to the operating mem r .24 biasin spring 40 and locking key 41 1n exactly t e same manner as the two motor accelerating contacts 16 and 17 just described.

The electromagnet controlling switch 19, however, is operated by the insulating finger 42 which is fixedly secured to the contact operating member 24. Switch 19 is of the double throw type and is biased into engagement with its upper cooperating stationary Contact and out of engagement with the lower resilient stationary contact by the biasing spring 43.

The terminal clips 44are provided for receiving a vthermal overload relay protective device T indicated diagrammatically in F 7 preferably of the cartridge type, such for example as shown in Getchell Patent 1,581,- 192, although obviously any other suitable form of overload protective device may be employed with the motor starter if desired. A bra ing relay 45 is mounted on the panel 12 beside the operating electromagnet 20 and is connected as shown in Fig. 7 to prevent energization of electromagnet 20 until the braking current decreases below a certain value.

As shown in detail in Fig. 2, the gear escapement time delay mechanism 30 comprises a suitable casing within which the gear wheel 50 is mounted upon the shaft of the ratchet pinion 32 in mesh with the small driving of the various operating and controlling elev ments of the motor starter may be better understood from the description of the operation thereof which is as follows:

In Fig. 7 the circuit controlling mecha-v nism is shown connected to control the op eration of the motor M of the usual type having a shunt field winding and a commutating` field winding under the remote control of the Start and Stop master switch push but tons indicated. The resistors R1 and R2 serve during starting of motor M as accelerating 0 resistors under the control of the accelerating contacts 16 and 17 and during stopping of motor M as braking resistors in the closed circuit established about the motor armature upon openin of the upper line contactI of swltch 15 an closure of the lower dynamic braking contact thereof. The adjustable resistor R3 for the motorheld circuit is controlled by the field regulating switch 18 to insure full field starting of the motor and reduced field running operation thereof. The operating electromagnet controlling switch 19 is connected with the start and stop push buttons to insure astrong initial energization of the operating electromagnet 20 and a materially reduced 'energization theremechanism is in the U iin which current is supplied to the motor -Supply lines 60 to the after. The thermal overload device T functions in a well known manner to interrupt the circuit of electromagnet 20 upon the occurrence of an excessive current llow from the motor circuit.

` As illustrated in Fiul the motor starting running position from the supply, lines 60 with resistorsR1 and through the shunt the adjustable contacts braking relay 45, the entire switches 16 and 17. This .in Fig closes to entirely R2 in the motor circuit shunted and a selected portion of the adjustable field regulating resistor R3 inserted in circuit with the shunt field of the motor. The motor armature circuit may he traced from the upper supply line 60 through the disconnecting twitch cache seminal piace 46, che cominutating field and armature conductor 62 thence through the accelerating contact 17, the conductor 63, the line switch l5, the heating winding of the thermal relay T, and the disconnecting switch 6l the lower` supply line 60. The shunt held circuit entends directly from the terminal plate 46 field, and the portion oi resistorlts determined hy the position oi 64 to the heating winding ci the thermal overload relay.

'Under these conditions the motor controlling switches are maintained in their respective position shown in Fig. 7 due to energization of the operating electromagnet 26 through a circuit extending through the contact of the thermal relay T, the contact ci the winding oi the operating electromagnet, conductor 65, the lower contact of switch 19 and the stop push hutten, to the terminal 46. Likewise, the its selected reduced inotor is operating at @old il "I n To stop the motor, the stop push hutten is operated, thereby deenergizing the electromagnet 26 and permitting the armature @l thereof to fall and open the motor line switch l5 loeoie opening the motor accelerating results from the finger @4o engages iact that the upturned the nger 28o and the line switch before 'the member 28 engages pespectively witliatlie contacts 17 and 16. Since the line switch 15 always opens first to interrupt the circuit controlled by the accelerating switches i6 and 17, only the line switch 15 need he provided with the magnetic blowout il, as shown 1. At the same time the switch i8 short-circuit the held resistor R, and the switch 19 opens its lower contact and closes its upper contact to insure a strong initial energization of the upper portion of the operating electromagnet wind ing u n su uent operation ci the Start push utton. us in the stopping position the several contacts of the motor controlling switch mechanism are in their relative positions shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

Upon the opening of the motor line switch shunt eld, due to the short-circuiting of of motor M, Y

15, the dynamic lor circuit for the motor M is established automatically through. the bottom contact Aof switch 15. The dynamic hrakingRcircuit includes the accelerating resisters -1 and R2, the motor armature and commutating lield winding, as well as the loralin relay 45. The full excitation of the the resistor R, produces a strong brakin action in the inotor M. As long as the ynamic hraliing currentI of the motor M is of anappreciahle value, the hraking relay functions to maintain its contact in the upper position thereby clectively preventing restarting of the :motor M until the dynamic braking action of the inotor is completed..

To restart the motor M, the start push hutton is closed. This results in energizing only the upper portion of the winding of the operating electromagnet 20, the circuit extending roin the terminal 46 through the stop push hutten, the start push button, the upper contact of switch 19, to the intermediate terminal oi the magnet winding,l and thence through the contact or" the braking way on excessive energizing current is suppliedto the upper portion of the operating electromagnet winding and the movable armature 21 thereoi is strongly attracted to the caised position. 'This results in the im mediate operation ci the contact operating inemher 24 to close the motor line switch 15,- as shown in llig. d. Thereupon the motor M starts to accelerate with the current limiting resistors R, and R2 in circuit therewith. At rthe saine time the switch 19 is operated hy the insulating hoger il@ to open its upper contact and close its lower contact, thereby cona meeting all olf the electromagnet winding in circuit and materially reducing the current input thereto.

The operation ci' the inotor accelerating' contacts 16 und 'll and the eld reducing switch controlling hoger 39, however, is re- `'l'.arded due to the engagement of the teeth ci the curved raclr gear 31 with the ratchet pinion 62, thereby setting up a strain in the veral hissing springs 33, 34, and 40. This strain in the hissing springs results in movel ment ot the rech gear 31 over the ratchet pinion 32 under the retardng influence of the timin pawl oil and the retarding inem loer 28 io ows the movement of the contact operating nieinher @l to cergy the accelerating contacts 16 and 17 to the oecd position. .ils the rotar-ding arm 28 moves under the strain of the hiasing springs, the contact 16 hist engagw with its cooperating stationary contact 16', as indicated in Fig. 5. This results in short-circuitilng the resistor R, therehy leaving only the resistor R, to limit theaccelerating current of the motor. As the movement of the reta A arm 28 pro-- further the contact 1 next iscarriedilo into abutting engagement with its cooperating contact 17 to short-circuit the resistor R2, thereby removing all of the limiting resistance from the armature circuit of the motor M. Upon further movement of the retarding member 28 the rack 31 runs free of the pinion 32. This results in a quick operation of the insulating linger 39 to open the field regulating switch 18, thereby inserting the selected portion of the resistor R3 in the motor ield circuit. Thereupon the motor accelerates to its full running speed and the,

` enclosing casing l0, the four corners .of the panel base 12, upon which the motor starting switch mechanism is mounted are cut away. This facilitates the insertion of the necessary line and motor connections and control wiring through the conduit receiving openings 70 located back of the panel 12 in the enclosing casing and the connection thereof to the proper terminals on the face of the panel 12. Since the resistors R1 and R2 are mounted directly upon the back of the panel l2, as shown in Fig. 2, to be removable as a unit therewith, and are directly connected with the proper acceleration and line contacts, it is possible to complete all of the wiring connections directly upon the face of the panel 12. The cutting away of a portion of the panel 12 also serves to increase the facilities for ventilation. Magnetic arc blowout chutes '71 and 72 of the usual form are applied respectively to the line switch 15 and the field switch 18 to quickly extin uish any arcs occurring upon the opening o these switches. lNhat I claim as new and deslre to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is,-

1. In a circuit controlling device, the combination of a plurality of contacts each movable from one circuit controlling position to a second circuit controlling position, an operating element movable quickly from one position to another, a separate spring connection between each of said contacts and said operating element, sequencing means arranged in the paths of said contacts for causing said contacts to operate in a predetermined sequence, and a timing device for delaying the operation of said contacts from said one circuit controlling position to said second controlling position when said operating element is moved quickly from one to the other of said positions.

2. In a circuit controlling device, the combination of a plurality of contacts, each movable from one circuit controlling position to a second circuit controlling position, an actuating element therefor operable from one position to a second position, and having a separate yielding connection with each contact, and a retarding element movable with a time delay action for settin up a strain in the yielding connections o said contacts upon operation of the actuating element between said positions and arranged to successively release the strains set up in said connections to effect operation of the contacts to said second position in a timed sequence.

3. In a circuit controlling device, the combination comprising lan operating member quickly movable from one position to a second position, a plurality of contacts disposed in spaced relation with said operating member and yieldingly connected lthereto to be operated from one circuit controlling position to a second circuit controlling position, and a retarding member interposed between the operating member and the said contacts and movable with a time delay action, said retarding member having parts out of alinement engaging said contacts to effect successive operation of the contacts to said second position in a timed sequence after a quick operation of said operating member between said positions. y

4. In a circuit controlling device, the combination of a plurality of contacts movable in substantially parallel paths from one circuit controlling position to a second circuit controlling position, a common actuating element therefor quickly operable -from one position to a second position, a separate yielding connection between each contact and said actuating element comprising a compression spring, and time delay means having a common retarding element disposed in the paths of said contacts simultaneously to restrain operation thereof from said one circuit controlling position to thereby set up strains in said compression springs upon a quick operation of the actuating element between said positions, the common retarding element of said time delay means having parts out of alinement engaging said contacts to successively release the strains of-said compression springs and thereby effect operation of the contacts to said second circuit controlling position 1n a t1med sequence.

5. A time element circuit controlling device comprising a pivoted member having a plurality of relatively movable circuit controlling contacts mounted thereon to successively engage with cooperating contacts, an independently movable pivoted operating member having a yielding operating connection with said movable contacts, and time delay mechanism connected withmsaid first pivoted member to insure engagement of4 the said movable contacts with the cooperating contacts in'a timed sequence after operatlon of said operating member.

6. In a circuit controlling device, the combination with a quickly movable contact and a. relatively movable contact operating mem- I hina-tion of a plurality of contacts each ppi erable from one circuit controlling position toa second circuit controlling position, a common operating electromagnet therefor' having a movable magnetic member operatively connected through separate lost motion connections with a plurality of said ccntacts, andtime delay means for retarding the taking up of the lost motion connections and having means for maintaining said plurality of contacts out of alinement to effect suc- 'cessive operation thereof to said second position in a timed sequence after unretarded operation of the said movable magnetic member to operate theremainder of the contacts to said second position.

8. Acircutontrolling device comprising a pairj'of movable members, a yielding connection therebetween, a plurality of movable switch cbntacts, cooperating stationary congage successively tacts therefor, means for mounting a portion of the movable cont-acts on one of the said movable members in spaced relation to enthe cooperating stationary 'contacts uponoperation of the other movable .member between two positions and to disengage successively the cooperating contacts upon return operatlon of said other movable 4 member,'means for mounting one of the movable contacts on the said other pivotedJ member to engage the cooperating contact before the succeive enga ement of the said portion of the contacts an to disengage the cooperating contact before the successive disengagement of the said portion of the contacts, a time delay mechanism, and connections between the mechanism and the said one member for retarding the successive engagement of the contacts mounted thereon with the cooperating contacts and permitting unretarded disengagement thereof.

9. A circuit controlling device comprising a plurality of stationary contacts, a plurality of cooperating contacts, each movable into abutting engagement with a corresponding stationary contact, a cpmmon operating electroma et ,for said movable contacts, a separate ost motion spring connection between the electromagnet and each of the movable contacts, and a time delay device for said contacts including a movable member associated with each of said spring connections for setting upa stra' therein to move the member upon operation oi the electromagnet and provided -with means or successively releasing the strains in said spring connections to effect operation of said movable contacts into abutting engagement with the stationary contacts in a timed sequence during the movement of the member.

10. A circuit controlling device comprising a pair of concentrically pivoted movable members disposed in overlapping relation, A

an electromagnet having a movable magnetic member ,connected with the iirst of said pivoted members to operate the same from one position to another position upon energization of the electromagnet, a time delay retarding mechanism connected with the second pivoted member through a one way drivl ing connection, a plurality of relatively movable contacts, a plurality of cooperating cony tacts, diierent portions of the relatively movable contacts being mounted on each of said pivoted members with the contacts on the second pivoted member arranged in spaced relation to engage successively with the corre-- spending cooperating contacts, a separate yielding connection between the first pivoted member and each contact mounted on the second pivoted member 'for jointly setting up a strain to cause the second member to move under the retarding action of said retarding mechanism upon operation of the first pivoted member to said other position and thereby effect the, successive engagement of the portion ofthe contacts ond pivotd member with the corresponding cooperating contacts in a timed sequence after the engagement of the portion of the contacts mounted on the rst member with the corresponding cooperating contacts, and means for biasing said irst and second members for simultaneous unretarded return movement to their initial positions upon de- 'energization ofthe electromagnet.

l1. A cuits comprising a line switch, a plurality of circuit controlling switches each having a separate resilient connection with the line switch, an operating electromagnet for the line switch, a time delay mechanism having a movable retarding member associated with said controlling switches for setting up strains in said resilient connections-to oper-y mounted on the seccontrolling device for electric cirtromagnet, an operating element moved by said electromagnet from one osition to another, a separate spring connection between each of said switches and said operating element whereby said switches are operated by said element, sequencing means for causing said circuit controlling switches to close in a predetermined lsequence and for causing said field switch to open after the closing of said circuit controllin mechanism vfor retarding the operation of said circuit controlling switches and said field switch, and means operated by said operating element for opening said line switch before corresponding operations of said other switches.

13. In a circuit controlling device, the combination of a switch member having two circuit closing positions and being biased to one of said positions, an electrom-agnet for operating the switch member to the other position, a plurality of cooperating switch members mechanically associated with the said first Switch member to be biased thereby to one circuit controlling position and yieldingly connected with the said first switch member to be operated thereby to another circuit controlling position, and a time delay mechanism for insuring successive operation of the said cooperating switch members upon operation of said iirst switch to said other position and permitting substantially instantaneous operation of said cooperating switches upon operation of said lirst switch member to said one position in accordance with its bias.

14. In a circuit controlling device, the combination of a switch member operable bev tween two circuit closing positions and being switches, a timing biased to one of said positions, an electromagnet for operating the switch member to the other circuit closing position, a plurality of cooperating switches mechanically connected with said rst switch member to be operated simultaneously therewith upon operation of the iirst switch member to its biased position and yieldingly connected therewith for successive operation upon operation of said first switch member to said other circuit closing position, and a time delay mechanism connected with said cooperating switches for delaying successive operation thereof in a time sequenceI after operation of said first switch member upon energization of the electromagnet and permittin simultaneous operation thereof with said rst switch member upon deenergization of the operating electromagnet. 15. Acircuit controlling device comprising a line switch, a plurality of circuit controlling switches, means associated with said circuit controlling switches for causing said switches to operate in a predetermined sequence, an electromagnet, connections bctween said electromagnet and said line and circuit controlling switches for operating said switches, said connections includin means for opening said line switch before t e opening of said circuit controlling switches, and time delay means elective only during the closing of said circuit controlling switches for retarding the closing of said circuit controlling switches. l

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 9th day of February, 1927.

ROBERT `W. GOFF. 

